Play mat assembly and method of preparing a play surface for a child

ABSTRACT

A play mat assembly and method of preparing a play surface for a child includes a mat body and a fastener. The mat body is configured to selectively fold about a fold line between an unfolded and a folded position. The unfolded mat body forms a play surface having a graphical play indicia configured to encourage the child to selectively interact with a toy thereon for entertaining the child. The folded mat body forms interior cavity for retaining the toy.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/006,505 filed on Jun. 2, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a play mat and method of preparing a play surface for a child and storing a toy.

BACKGROUND

Play mats having images directed to a theme are well known to families for entertaining children. For example, the play mat may include a road map so that one or more children may move toy cars along a surface of the mat and pretend to drive these cars along roads, providing hours of fun and entertainment. In turn, the play may also provides a comfortable surface on which the children may play without directly contacting a floor in order to protect the floor from damage that may otherwise be caused by the toys.

While such play mats benefit children and adults alike, storing and organizing the play mat and toys presents a variety of challenges to a user, such as a parent. In order to comfortably play with the toys, the toys are generally separate from the play mat and, as such, must be managed separately for storage. While it may be possible for the parent to store the toys alongside the play mat, it is imperative for the parent to carefully monitor the location of the toys and the play mat so that each are within reach as the play mat is being prepared for play. This is further aggravated by inconvenient storage spaces that may not easily accommodate separable toys and play mats, as well as children that may take one toy away without taking the other. For example, the child may locate and take the toys, while leaving the play mat behind, causing disorganization and mismanagement of the play mat and toys.

There is a need for a play mat assembly and method of preparing a play surface, such as for one or more children, in order to improve organization and storage of the play mat and its related toys that addresses present challenges and characteristics such as those discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment, a play mat assembly for entertaining a child includes a mat body configured to selectively fold about a fold line between an unfolded position and a folded position. The unfolded mat body forms a play surface having a graphical play indicia configured to encourage the child to selectively interact with a toy thereon for entertaining the child. A fastener is attached to a peripheral outer edge of the mat body. The fastener is configured to go between an open position and a closed position when the mat body is in the folded position. When the fastener is positioned nearer the closed position, the folded mat body forms an interior cavity capable of retaining the toy therein.

In use, an exemplary method of preparing a play surface of a play mat assembly for a child, where the play assembly is the same or similar to the one described above. The method includes moving the fastener from the closed position to the open position and removing a toy from the interior cavity. Then the mat body is unfolded onto a support surface such that the play surface is facing upward in order prepare the play surface for use with the toy. The child can then interact with the toy and the graphical play indicia.

Various additional objectives, advantages, and features of the invention will be appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a play mat assembly in an unfolded position showing a play surface of a mat body having a plurality of toy animal figures resting thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the play mat assembly of FIG. 1 showing a back surface of the mat body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the play mat assembly of FIG. 1 in a partially folded position being folded toward a folded position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the play mat assembly similar to

FIG. 3, but in the folded position and showing a clip device attached to the mat body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the play mat assembly of FIG. 4 hanging from a support element via the clip device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a play mat assembly in an unfolded position showing a back surface of a mat body.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the play mat assembly similar to FIG. 6, but showing flexible band attached to the mat body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a play mat assembly 10 in an unfolded position includes a generally circular mat body 12 and at least one toy 14, such as a toy animal figure or a farm animal figure. The mat body 12 may be made of any suitable flexible material such as cloth, rubber, plastic, and the like. The mat body 12 includes a generally circular play surface 16 having a graphical play indicia 18, such as a farm image, which includes predetermined visual cues for predetermined paths. A child, or other user, is thereby encouraged to selectively interact with the graphical play indicia, such as by moving the toy 14 along the predetermined paths of the play surface 16 for entertainment, which may also include educational development. The mat body 12 folds about a fold line 22 aligned with a diameter of the mat body 12. According to the exemplary embodiment, the circular mat body 12 is selectively foldable along fold line 22 between the unfolded position for use and the folded position for storage. The mat body 12 in the unfolded position is generally planar so as to provide a comfortable mat on which the child may sit, kneel, or stand while interacting with the toys 14 thereon. In addition, the mat body 12 may be padded for further comfort to the child during use. As described herein, the term “fold line” refers to a predetermined location for folding the mat body 12 and, as such, is not intended to limit the “fold line” of the mat body 12 to a particular structure. However, according to an alternative embodiment, the fold line 22 of the mat body 12 may also be structurally configured (such as a living hinge) to fold more easily than the remainder of the mat body 12 in order to fold more predictably and with less applied force.

The mat body 12 includes the inner play surface 16 and an outer back surface 24. The play surface 16 and back surface 24 are generally parallel to and offset from each other. In the folded position, a first portion 26 of the mat body 12 folds about the fold line 22 against a second portion 28 of the mat body 12 so that the first and second portions 26, 28 of the mat body 12 overlap and the mat body 12 is generally semicircular in shape.

A fastener 32, such as a zipper, is attached to a peripheral outer edge 34 of the mat body 12. The zipper 32 is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position when the mat body 12 is in the folded position. In addition, zipper teeth 36 extend from an initial end 38 of the zipper 32 around a peripheral outer edge 34 of the mat body 12 to a terminal end 40 of the zipper 32 and generally surround the play surface 16 as shown in FIGS. 1-2. When the mat body 12 is in the folded position and zipper 32 is partially zipped, and preferably nearer the closed position, the mat body 12 creates an interior cavity 20 into which toys 14 can be placed. In addition, the toys 14 may be fully retained within the interior cavity 20 by when the zipper 32 is in the closed position.

A cover 42 is attached to the outer edge 34 of the mat body 12 and positioned adjacent to the initial end 38 and terminal end 40 of the zipper 32. When the mat body 12 is in the unfolded position (FIG. 1), the cover 42 rests on top of the initial and terminal ends 38, 40 of the zipper 32 in order to cover the initial and terminal ends 38, 40 and keep the child from inadvertently kneeling on or otherwise directly contacting the initial and terminal ends 38, 40 or a zipper element 44. According to an exemplary embodiment, the play surface 16 is the inner surface of the folded mat body 12, whereas the back surface 24 is the outer surface of the folded mat body 12. It will be appreciated that the play surface 16 and graphical play indicia 18 may be moved or vary in its position about the inner play surface 16 in accordance with the invention described herein. In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment, the outer back surface 24 also includes additional graphical play indicia 18′ configured to indicate a play theme tied to the graphical play indicia 18 on the play surface 16. In other words, the graphical play indicia 18′ is thematically similar to the graphical play indicia 18. As such, it may become readily apparent what theme is on the graphical play indicia 18 by looking to the graphical play indicia 18′ while stored in the folded position. For example, if the graphical play indicia 18′ is a farm theme, this would indicate that the graphical play indicia 18 will also be a farm theme. Thus, if the child has multiple play mat assemblies 10, the child could quickly determine which of them he or she wants to play with by looking at the theme of the graphical play indicia 18′ without having to open up the mat body 12 to see the theme of the graphical play indicia 18.

With respect to FIGS. 3-5, the play mat assembly 10 further includes a clip device 46 that is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position for removably connecting to the mat body 12. According to an exemplary embodiment, the clip device 46 is a squeeze clip 46 biased via a spring, for example, toward the closed position. The squeeze clip 46 may have an outer appearance in the shape of an animal (FIGS. 1 and 5), which may be tailored to correspond to the theme of the inner and outer graphical play indicia 18, 18′. As shown in FIG. 3, the squeeze clip 46 includes an engagement end portion 48 and a support end portion 50. The engagement end portion 48 is configured to removably attach to the mat body 12, whereas the support end portion 50 is configured to be suspended for hanging the mat body 12 by the squeeze clip 46. With respect to FIGS. 3-4, the engagement end portion 48 compresses a folded edge 52 of the mat body 12. More particularly, in order to aid in placement of the squeeze clip 46, the back surface 24 includes a clip indicia 54 to indicate a predetermined position for attaching the engagement end portion 48 of the squeeze clip 46. As such, the semicircular mat body 12 may further fold over itself for being hung as shown in FIG. 5.

By way of example, the squeeze clip 46 shown in FIG. 5 is in the shape of a squirrel figure. The squeeze clip 46 is configured to be biased to the closed position with enough force so as to support a weight of the remaining play mat assembly 10. More specifically, the engagement end portion 48 receives the mat body 12, and the support end portion 50 suspends the play mat assembly 10 by a support element 56 (see FIG. 7). The support end portion 50 shown in FIG. 5 is in the form of a hook, such as the squirrel tail. Thereby, the squeeze clip 46 may hang from the support element 56 (see FIG. 7), which may be in the form of a hook, peg, or other structure.

FIGS. 6-7 show another embodiment of a play mat assembly 110 having an alternative way to carry and hang the play mat assembly 110. FIG. 7 shows a flexible band 146 with complimentary hook and loop fasteners 147 at either ends of the flexible band 146. Rather than clip indicia 54 (see FIG. 2), a mat body 112 includes a pair of slots 113 passing through the mat body 112 and being configured to receive the flexible band 146 there through. Once the flexible band 146 is placed through the slots 113, the ends of the flexible band 146 fasten together such that the play mat assembly 110 may be hung such as on a support element 56, as described above. By way of example, the flexible band 146 may further include a themed shape figure, such as animal head or body (FIG. 7) that corresponds to the graphical play indicia 18, 18′.

In use, FIGS. 1-5 show the play surface 16 of the play mat assembly 10 being prepared for storage in the folded position and for entertaining the child in the unfolded position. From the folded position in storage, a user, which may be the child or an adult, removes the hanging play mat assembly 10 from the support element 56 (see FIG. 7) and disengages the clip device 46 from the mat body 12. The user releases the fastener 32 in order to open the opening, such as by unzipping the zipper element 44 from the initial end 38 of the zipper 32 to the terminal end 40 of the zipper 32. The user can then access the interior cavity 20 and remove the toys 14 from the within.

With a support surface (not shown) clear enough to place the mat body 12 thereon, the user unfolds the mat body 12 and spreads the mat body 12 about the floor to the unfolded position. By way of example, an exemplary support surface (not shown) may be a floor within the user's home. The play surface 16 faces upward on the support surface (not shown) with the back surface 24 of the mat body 12 facing downward, directly on the support surface (not shown). To keep the child from inadvertently leaning on and causing discomfort from the zipper 32, the cover 42 is positioned over the initial and terminal ends 38, 40 of the zipper 32. During play, the child may interact with one or more toys 14, such as moving the toys 14 about the play surface 16 along the graphical play indicia 18 for entertainment.

In order to prepare the play mat assembly 10 for storage, the user generally reverses the above steps for preparing the play mat assembly 10 for use by the child. To this end, the user places the toys 14 on the play surface 16 and folds the mat body 12 about the fold line 22 and partially zips the zipper 32, preferably to a position nearer to the closed position, to form the interior cavity 20 such that the one or more toys 14 on the play surface 16 are captured within the interior cavity 20. Additionally, toys 14 not on the play surface 16 can also be placed in the interior cavity 20. The user then moves the zipper 32 to the closed position in order to retain the toys 14 within the interior cavity 20. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the engagement end portion 48 of the clip device 46, such as the squeeze clip 46, is aligned with the clip indicia 54 and compresses the mat body 12. The mat body 12 is then further folded and the support end portion 50 is hung onto the support element 56 (see FIG. 7) for conveniently storing the toys 14 and the mat body 12 simultaneously.

Alternatively, the flexible band 146 as shown in FIGS. 6-7 extends through the plurality of slots 113. The ends of the flexible band 146 are then secured together by the hook and loop fasteners 147. The ends of the flexible band 146 could be secured together with a buttons, snaps, zippers, or any other suitable fastener. The mat body 112 is then further folded and the flexible band 146 is hung onto the support element 56 for conveniently storing the toys 14 (see FIG. 1) and the mat body 112 simultaneously.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It will be appreciated that other shapes and/or sizes for the toys 14, the mat body 12, and the clip device 46 may be used. For example, the mat body 12 may be any other shape such as elliptical, polygonal (e.g., quadrilateral, triangular), or any combination of straight and/or curved sides forming a shape. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that any graphical play indicia 18 on the inner play surface 16 and/or the outer back surface 24 may vary and the invention should not be limited to the indicia shown and described herein. While the toy animals and squirrel clip device have been selected in accordance with the farm image shown in an exemplary embodiment, other toy shapes and clip device shapes may be similarly selected for another image, such as a building, home, cityscape, zoo, etc. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A play mat assembly for entertaining a child, comprising; a mat body configured to selectively fold about a fold line between an unfolded position and a folded position, the unfolded mat body forming a play surface, the play surface having a graphical play indicia configured to encourage the child to selectively interact with a toy thereon; and a fastener attached to a peripheral outer edge of the mat body, the fastener configured to go between an open position and a closed position when the mat body is in the folded position; wherein when the fastener is positioned nearer the closed position, the folded mat body forms an interior cavity capable of retaining the toy therein.
 2. The play mat assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a toy suitable for being used on the play surface and being retained in the interior cavity.
 3. The play mat assembly of claim 2, wherein the graphical play indicia is a farm image and the toy is a farm animal figure.
 4. The play mat assembly of claim 1, wherein the unfolded mat body is generally circular and has a diameter, the folded mat body is generally semicircular, and the fold line extends along the diameter of the mat body.
 5. The play mat assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a clip device configured to be selectively removably attached to the mat body, wherein when the clip device is attached to the mat body, the mat body may be hung from the clip device.
 6. The play mat assembly of claim 5, wherein the clip device is a squeeze clip, the squeeze clip further comprises: an engagement end portion and a support end portion, the engagement end portion configured to selectively removably attached to the mat body, and the support end portion configured to be fixedly suspended so as to hang the mat body when the engagement end portion is attached to the mat body.
 7. The play mat assembly of claim 6, wherein the mat body has a back surface opposite the play surface, and the back surface includes a clip indicia configured to indicate a predetermined position for attaching the engagement end portion to the mat body, the back surface further includes a graphical play indicia that is thematically similar to the graphical play indicia on the play surface.
 8. The play mat assembly of claim 7, wherein the clip indicia is centrally located on the back surface of the mat body proximate the fold line.
 9. The play mat assembly of claim 5, wherein the clip device is a flexible band and the mat body further comprises: at least one slot extending through the mat body, the at least one slot configured to receive the flexible band therethrough for hanging the mat body by the flexible band.
 10. The play mat assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a zipper.
 11. The play mat assembly of claim 10, wherein the mat body has a peripheral outer edge, and the zipper is attached to the peripheral outer edge.
 12. The play mat assembly of claim 11, wherein the zipper extends around the peripheral outer edge from an initial end to a terminal end thereof.
 13. The play mat assembly of claim 12, further comprising: a cover attached to the mat body and positioned adjacent to the peripheral outer edge and configured to cover the initial and terminal ends of the zipper to keep the child from directly resting on the initial and terminal ends while the mat body is in the unfolded position.
 14. A method of preparing a play surface of a play mat assembly for a child, the play mat assembly having a mat body configured to selectively fold about a fold line between an unfolded position and a folded position, the unfolded mat body forming the play surface, a fastener attached to a peripheral outer edge of the mat body, the fastener configured to go between an open position and a closed position when the mat body is in the folded position, when the fastener is positioned nearer the closed position, the folded mat body forms an interior cavity capable of retaining a toy therein, the method comprising; moving the fastener from the closed position to the open position; removing the toy from the interior cavity; and unfolding the mat body onto a support surface such that the play surface is facing upward in order prepare the play surface for use with the toy.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fastener is a zipper and moving the fastener further comprises: unzipping the zipper from an initial end of the zipper to a terminal end of the zipper.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the play mat assembly further comprising: a cover attached to the mat body and positioned adjacent to the peripheral outer edge and configured to cover the initial and terminal ends of the zipper to keep the child from directly resting on the initial and terminal ends while the mat body is in the unfolded position.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the play mat assembly further includes a clip device having an engagement end portion and a support end portion, the engagement end portion configured to be selectively removably attached to the mat body, and the support end portion configured to be fixedly suspended so as to hang the mat body when the engagement end portion is attached to the mat body, the method comprising: disengaging the clip device from the folded mat body.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising: folding the mat body; zipping the zipper between the open position and the closed position such that the mat body creates an interior cavity; positioning the toy within the interior cavity; and zipping the fastener to the closed position thereby retaining the toy within the interior cavity.
 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the play mat assembly includes a clip device having an engagement end portion and a support end portion, the engagement end portion configured to be selectively removably attached to the mat body, and the support end portion configured to be fixedly suspended so as to hang the mat body when the engagement end portion is attached to the mat body, the method comprising: engaging the clip device to the folded mat body.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the mat body has a back surface opposite the play surface, and the back surface includes a clip indicia configured to indicate a predetermined position for attaching the engagement end portion to the mat body, the method comprising: positioning the engagement end portion on the predetermined position identified by the clip indicia. 